This Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) funded study explores the learning pathways of mature women students in universities in Canada. The barriers, supports, challenges, and motivational factors that impact upon women’s ability to participate in higher education are investigated through a combination of life history interviews with women students and interviews with “key informants” & individuals in the policy sector and administrative positions in higher education. In total, 36 life history participants and 15 key informants interviews were conducted in four different provinces in Canada; British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Nova Scotia.
A condensed discussion of the results of this study is available in the Summary Document.
A list of presentations and papers on this study that explain the results and analysis in more detail are listed below and will be updated regularly.
Public Lectures (not published)
All this and an education too! The challenges and benefits for mature learners in university. Sponsored by the Adult Learning Knowledge Centre and hosted by Mount Alison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, on March 7, 2008.
Conference Presentations (not published)
Gouthro, P.A. (2007). Diversity and lifelong learning pathways: recognizing non-linear life trajectories for learners in community and in higher education. The Atlantic Educators Conference. Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Invited Keynote Presentation (not published)
The Homeplace as a Critical Learning Site for Adults Invited keynote speaker for the Norway Opening University Conference Den usynlige student/The invisible student in Oslo, Norway, April 26-27th.
Book Chapters
Gouthro, P.A. (2010). Women, learning and equity: Recognizing non-linear life trajectories for women in political life and in higher education. In Jackson, S. (Ed). Innovations in lifelong learning: International perspectives on diversity, participation and vocational learning. London: Routledge.
Gouthro, P.A. (2009). Understanding women’s learning trajectories: Examining life histories of women learners in Canada. In Merrill, B. (Ed). Learning to change? The role of identity and learning careers in adult education. Frankfurt, Germany: Peter Lang.
Conference Presentations
Gouthro, P.A. (2007). Designing research strategies to create connections between adult and higher education policies, politics and practices. Paper presented at the 37th Annual Standing Conference on University Teaching and Research in the Education of Adults (SCUTREA), 3-5 July 2007, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland. Click here for paper
Gouthro, P.A. (2007). Reshaping Policies and Programmes: Addressing the Needs of Mature Women Students in Higher Education in Canada. Paper presented at the Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE) Annual Conference 2007, 11-13 December 2007, Brighton, Sussex.
Click here for paper
Gouthro, P.A. (2006). Understanding Women’s Learning Trajectories: Examining Life Histories of Women Learners in Canada. Paper presented at the European Society for Research on the Education of Adults (ESREA) Access, Learning Careers and Identities Network Conference, 7-8 December 2006, Belgium.
Gouthro, P.A.,Taber, N., & Brazil, A. (2006). Universities as Inclusive Learning Organizations for Women. Paper presented at the Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education (CASAE) Annual Conference, 28-30 May 2006, York University, Toronto. Click here for paper
Gouthro, P.A. (2005). Democratic Considerations for Fostering Lifelong Education for Women. Paper presented at the Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education (CASAE) Annual Conference, 28-31 May 2006, University of Western Ontario, London, ON. Click here for paper
Journal Articles
Gouthro, P.A. (2009). Neoliberalism, lifelong learning and the homeplace: Problematizing the boundaries of ‘public’ and ‘private’ to explore women’s learning experiences. Studies in Continuing Education, 31(2), 157-172.
Gouthro, P.A. (2005). A critical feminist analysis of the homeplace a learning site: explaining the discourse of lifelong learning to consider adult women learners. International Journal of Lifelong Learning. 24(1), 5-19.
Gouthro, P.A. (2006). Reason, Communicative Learning and Civil Society: The Use of Habermasian Theory in Adult Education. 40(1), 5-22.
Gouthro, P.A. (2007). Active and inclusive citizenship for women: democratic considerations for fostering lifelong learning. International Journal of Lifelong Education. 26(2), 143-154.
Gouthro, P.A. (2009). Neoliberalism, lifelong learning and the homeplace: Problematizing the boundaries of ‘public’ and ‘private’ to explore women’s learning experiences. Studies in Continuing Education. 31(2), 157-172.
Gouthro, P.A. (2009). Life Histories of Canadian Women as Active Citizens: Implications for Policies and Practices in Adult Education. The Canadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education. 21(2),19-36.